November 12, 2012

Undergang - Til Døden Os Skiller - Indhentet Af Døden

Art by David Torturdød from Undergang

The two full-length albums by Denmark's Undergang are now available as name your price downloads on their Bandcamp. Indhentet Af Døden (from 2010) and Til Døden Os Skiller (from 2012) are both putrid slabs of old-school death metal. You know the other death metal cliches: rotten, filthy, disgusting, nasty. All true. Indhentet Af Døden bludgeons you with brutal riffs performed with with an almost hardcore like single-mindedness. But don't confuse this with simple-mindedness, Undergang keeps you on your toes by adding the odd weird riff and time-signature change. As the esteemed Full Metal Attorney succinctly labels them: Obituary twisted by Demilich

On Til Døden Os Skiller the death metal have been given a little more room to breathe, making this a remarkably atmospheric album. As this enthusiastic review from Sputnikmusic states: What can be most appreciated about "Til Døden Os Skiller" is how well Undergang keeps that filthy, evil atmosphere always present. The use of chilling sound samples (all Danish) certainly helps, the instrumental Kadavarmarch even starts with a rendition of the Lord's Prayer. But make no mistake this is still Undergang playing death metal for you, just a little deeper and slower. And as the best death metal the pounding riffs constantly instill a sense of life in you, even though the riffs are literally killing you.